What characterised the Bakumatsu period in Japan?

The Bakumatsu period in Japan was characterised by political instability, western influence, and the end of the Tokugawa shogunate.

The Bakumatsu period, which spanned from 1853 to 1867, was a time of significant political and social change in Japan. It marked the end of the Edo period and the Tokugawa shogunate, a feudal military government that had ruled Japan for over 250 years. The period was characterised by political instability, as the shogunate struggled to maintain control in the face of increasing pressure from Western powers and internal dissent.

One of the defining features of the Bakumatsu period was the arrival of Western powers and the subsequent opening of Japan to foreign trade. This was triggered by the arrival of American Commodore Matthew Perry and his 'Black Ships' in 1853, which led to the signing of the Treaty of Kanagawa in 1854. This treaty, and others that followed, forced Japan to open its ports to foreign trade and marked the end of its policy of national seclusion. The influx of Western influence brought about significant changes in Japanese society and culture, including the adoption of Western technology and ideas.

The Bakumatsu period was also characterised by internal conflict and political upheaval. The shogunate's inability to resist Western demands led to widespread dissatisfaction and unrest among the samurai class and daimyo (feudal lords). This culminated in the Boshin War of 1868-1869, a civil war that resulted in the overthrow of the shogunate and the restoration of the Emperor Meiji to power.

The Meiji Restoration, as it came to be known, marked the beginning of a new era in Japanese history. It signalled the end of the feudal system and the start of a period of rapid modernisation and westernisation. The changes that took place during the Bakumatsu period laid the groundwork for Japan's emergence as a major world power in the 20th century.